Somerville House Construction Update No. 36 - Friday, 30 October 2009
To the Somerville House Community
Next week we will see more major historical milestones in our precinct with our skyline featuring one less crane as Hutchinson Builders dismantle and
remove the crane over our new building tomorrow. It only seems like yesterday that we were all watching the crane swing over our existing Junior School and learning about wind vaning. We've learnt a great deal of 'construction speak' since then and have achieved so many milestones as we move one step closer to the handover of our new Junior School and Boarding House.
Another moment in history next week will be the opening of the new Hancock Street Car Park on Monday morning. As outlined in the Hancock Street Car Park section below, the entrance to the Mater Car Park will close at 8:30am, when the entrance of the Hancock Street Car Park will be opened for business. After 8:30am, cars will only be allowed to exit the old Mater Car Park throughout the day so don't go planning on leaving your car in there for a week - apart from the large parking bill, you will be up for a new car as demolition will commence on the Mater Car Park in coming weeks, once the Hancock Street Car Park has been operating successfully for a week.
Below we have also included a new section for this week's update on the changes to Coronation Drive next week. By the sounds of things, it might be quicker to take a diversion via the sunshine coast rather than trying to tackle Coronation Drive head on from Monday morning. If you can avoid it, I would suggest you do so - either that or leave home with a cut lunch nice and early in the morning.
Somerville House Update
The laying of floor coverings, final painting, and tiling continues inside, as building materials and scaffolding continues to be removed from the site, with the majority of these activities scheduled for completion over the next few weeks.
Work has also begun on the staff office area, with the ground floor of the staff administration area scheduled for completion late next week. You will have noticed that the construction has continued out from where the scaffolding has been in some areas to complete the external structure of the building.
Sheeting of the roof linking the new building to VPAC has been completed. Breakthrough drilling remains on schedule for the Christmas school holiday period.
As mentioned above the crane is set for removal this Saturday, and to accommodate the semi trailers and cranes needed for this activity Graham Street will be closed from Raymond Terrace to the Set-Down Loop.
Once again, all parents are reminded to remain vigilant and obey traffic signs and yellow lines that mean no parking in Graham Street, Stephens Road, and Raymond Terrace.
Other projects in the precinct:
Queensland Children’s Hospital (QCH)
Schematic design for the QCH is progressing with the final report due shortly. Major design considerations adopted are to provide a compassionate treatment environment for children and young people that supports the physical, social and emotional well being of children of all ages. The majority of overnight beds will be single rooms with ensuite facilities and a carer’s bed. The hospital will also provide a range of accommodation for regional families as well as onsite overnight accommodation for families in need.
The QCH will have two roles – to provide a statewide, highly specialised health care service for children with severe or complex medical conditions, and to treat children in the local inner-Brisbane community. This will require coordination with all hospitals where children are treated to ensure medical transfers, hospital care plans and outreach services are coordinated.
In another major development for children’s health services in Queensland, a children’s emergency department will be opened at The Prince Charles Hospital in Chermside by 2012. New or expanded children’s emergency and health services at Ipswich, Logan, Caboolture, Redcliffe and Redland Hospitals will further strengthen the children’s emergency care network in the greater metropolitan area.
Hancock Street Car Park
As mentioned above, construction works for Stage 1 of the car park are now complete, marking a major milestone for the project.Final commissioning is being carried out prior to the opening of this first stage, which currently is scheduled for Monday 2 November. All vehicle and pedestrian access to Stage 1 is via Hancock Street.
Building works continue on the upper floors of the car park (Stage 2), along with installation of the car park external facade screens and auditorium structural works.
Coronation Drive
As of Monday, changes will be made to Coronation Drive with a reduction from three lanes to two lanes inbound on Coronation Drive near the Hale Street Link. Please allow more time or consider alternative routes as delays are expected especially during the morning peak period. For further details on these changes, please log on to www.halestreetlink.com.au.
Somerville House Construction Hotline
Once again we are receiving valuable feedback and suggestions on the management of traffic around the School. Thank you to those who have taken the time to send this feedback through as it greatly assists our Traffic Management Group which meets fortnightly to discuss necessary changes as we adapt to the changes in our environment. This group is currently developing a diagram of parking and pedestrian spaces for 2010 and will send this out the Somerville community by the end of the year so that we all know what to expect when we return in 2010.
Thank you for your patience and support. If you have any concerns or feedback on how things can be improved, please contact the Somerville House Construction Hotline on (07) 3248 9272 or email dev-office@somerville.qld.edu.au.
Have a wonderful weekend!
The Somerville House Project Control Group.
